Koh Phangan -- A Condensed Guide

[Mark Wolfe]

I'd like to know the best and worst in a condensed form from those having traveled to Phangan or from those living there.

Anything that comes to mind will be useful...beaches, roads, sites, rip-offs, useful links, hotels...etc.

If this works, I will edit and add to this after I return from the island so that this can be a useful resource for others later, instead of having to peck and search for scraps of info here and there.

Thanks,

Mark

[Jose]

The best:

1) Can be paradise on earth;

2) KPG's people: many locals, some workers, some visitors.

The worst:

1) Can be hel_l on earth;

2) KPG's people: some locals, many workers, many visitors.

jose '-)

[redrus]

The best:

1) Can be paradise on earth;

2) KPG's people: many locals, some workers, some visitors.

The worst:

1) Can be hel_l on earth;

2) KPG's people: some locals, many workers, many visitors.

jose '-)

LOL, aint that the truth fella, aint that the truth.

It all depends on what you want and what situation you're in. If you;ve got kid's, you may want to stay away from Haad Rin at full moon, obviously.

I was told to not expect anything from LOS in general and, you'll get everything out of Thailand. Its never failed me.

Koh Phan Ghan, is a wonderful island that should not be missed but, please go all over it, too many people, for one reason or another, only ever see one place. Sad.

redrus

[thankuverybig]

i spent a bit of time on ko phan ngan a few years ago & i would say that i think it is important to pick the right resort where you stay.

there are certain resorts where the flow of substances is pretty constant & basically the people are constantly off theyre tits.

im in no way looking down on it ,but if you just want to chill out with the odd beer with the girlfreind then it can get a little weird.

[Mark Wolfe]

i spent a bit of time on ko phan ngan a few years ago & i would say that i think it is important to pick the right resort where you stay.

And?

Let me restate the mission: SPECIFIC references that could help a traveler to the island. WHICH resorts are good or bad? What is the best or worst travel agency? What roads are currently out of the question? And so on....

Name names, please.

M

[redrus]

SEAVIEW HAD RIN NOK

Seaview is a lovely family run resort on the quiet end of Had Rin Nok beach where the famous full moon party kicks off. Room rates start at 300 Baht and up to 1000 Baht for one of the Air-Con rooms (prices are same all year round). There are beachfront bungalows to choose from, and it makes for a perfect place to stay away from the busy section of Had Rin Nok.

http://www.phangan.info/index.cfm?action=b...each&idbeach=15

Stay here whenever I fancy going to Haad Rin, its right at the other end, the quiet end like the report says and, the bungalows on the beach although they don't have air con are right on the sand with great little balconies.

Staff are really helpfull and friendly and the food is good and cheap too.

I would not stay anywhere else on the beach.

redrus

[sbk]

That is, redrus, if one wants to stay in Hadrin. I head down there probably once a year .

Thong Nai Pan is a lovely beach, good swimming but, like Hadrin, has big waves and a rough current in Nov, Dec.

Ban Tai, Ban Kai are good beaches to stay at if you want to party in Hadrin but don't want the Hadrin hassles. Easy to get there, easy to get back, esp FMP night.

As for naming names of suspect places: not really a good idea if you think about it as it could open the namer and ThaiVisa up to all sorts of trouble if the owner of the resort saw it and took offense.

[Jose]

Depending on your length of stay, the best plan of action may be to base yourself in a comfortable/quiet/central location, and explore Koh Pha-Ngan from there.

If you need specifics, my favourite all-time resort is Rung Arun Resort in Bantai - the wife and I stayed there for three months last year, and it is central to the whole island. Rung Arun Resort directions here.

Other worthwhile spots/activities:

Go at least once to the small & secluded beaches at Than Sadet, snorkel at Mae Haad, climb the tallest mountain ( Khao Ra, 600m+), visit the numerous temples, spend some time with the locals, try the wonderful fruits (even Durian), watch the glorious sunsets and moonrises from several picturesque spots.

Not recommended except for the occasional visit:

Haad Rin (Full Moon Party town).

Take really good care on the roads if riding a bike.

Drugs of any sort can turn a wonderful holiday into a nightmare.

jose '-)

Edited June 18, 2006 by sbk

[Mark Wolfe]

SBK wrote:

As for naming names of suspect places: not really a good idea if you think about it as it could open the namer and ThaiVisa up to all sorts of trouble if the owner of the resort saw it and took offense.

I disagree. As a former moderator for the Taiwan forum, forumosa.com, I can say that your opinion is valuable in the free interchange of information; it is the Internet, after all. If you have had a bad experience somewhere, this needs to get out into the public swim, both to inform and to alert those in the spotlight to improve themselves.

Fire away.

(Rung Arun Resort rates: 1,500 baht for one night; cheapest rates for 40+ days @ 850 baht/night.)

Edited June 18, 2006 by Mark Wolfe

[bkkmadness]

I agree with MW, reviews good or bad are a valuable resource and there should be no fear of upsetting someone on here that are not advertisers with Thaivisa. And really, what's the chances they will read this anyway?

My recommendations are for food only, and thats Vantanas at Thongsala for their English brekkie, and Kops Place up near Had Yao for Thai food and overall ambience. The Thai curries there are absolutely delicious.

[Boo]

Actually SBK is right. Thaivisas rules 1 cover this quite clearly.

1) You will not use thaivisa.com to post any material which is knowingly or can be reasonably construed as false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, referencing suicide, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise in violation of any law.

Saying so & so road is bad is ok but slating a business or person because you have had a bad experiece is not. It's only one persons opinion & could cause thaivisa problems of a legal nature (which we don't want) so if you have had a bad expeience post it on the resorts own website but don't use thaivisa as a slagging off board.

[redrus]

Koh Phan Ghan, is a wonderful island that should not be missed but, please go all over it, too many people, for one reason or another, only ever see one place. Sad.

redrus

That is, redrus, if one wants to stay in Hadrin. I head down there probably once a year .

I refer you to my above quote SBK.............

redrus

[Pink Mist]

Actually SBK is right. Thaivisas rules 1 cover this quite clearly.

1) You will not use thaivisa.com to post any material which is knowingly or can be reasonably construed as false, defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, referencing suicide, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise in violation of any law.

Saying so & so road is bad is ok but slating a business or person because you have had a bad experiece is not. It's only one persons opinion & could cause thaivisa problems of a legal nature (which we don't want) so if you have had a bad expeience post it on the resorts own website but don't use thaivisa as a slagging off board.

exactly Boo, it's a matter of opinion from the poster.

[thankuverybig]

yes,im not sure i want to name & slag off a resort resort,just because its famous for its wild drug taking.

as you know drug busts are common on that island.

the people who ran the place seemed nice enough, as were the people staying there,who mainly went there for one reason.

i was cycling up through thailand at the time,so i was in a different frame of mind (you could say a boring fart) ,so its just my opinion.(& for some a <deleted> one at that)

[sbk]

Precisely, thankuverybig. It is all very subjective and naming a resort because they have drug using guests could get very bad, so, that in mind, lets try to keep this as informative as possible and as soon as slagging off occurs then the topic will be closed.

Bear in mind that one person's bad experience is not necessarily going to be true for everyone when posting and that more often than not (in my experience) people who complain the loudest are often the ones who are never happy no matter where they go.

That said, OP, I have to wonder why you are so interested in everyone's opinion especially when taking into consideration a previous post of yours:

I am an editor/writer who needs to get away from where I have been for the last 20 years (Taiwan) and seek a suitable place to do some writing.

Are you planning on writing a book about Koh Phangan? Taking a trip there and just curious?

[redrus]

Precisely, thankuverybig. It is all very subjective and naming a resort because they have drug using guests could get very bad, so, that in mind, lets try to keep this as informative as possible and as soon as slagging off occurs then the topic will be closed.

Bear in mind that one person's bad experience is not necessarily going to be true for everyone when posting and that more often than not (in my experience) people who complain the loudest are often the ones who are never happy no matter where they go.

That said, OP, I have to wonder why you are so interested in everyone's opinion especially when taking into consideration a previous post of yours:

I am an editor/writer who needs to get away from where I have been for the last 20 years (Taiwan) and seek a suitable place to do some writing.

Are you planning on writing a book about Koh Phangan? Taking a trip there and just curious?

Me too.....

redrus

[andy capp]

I live and run a business on samui and would often travel over to Phan ngan when friends or family were over visiting.I always avoid had rin[too old now] but thong noi pan and the northwest of the island are well worth a visit,very relaxing and chilled.Phan ngan still has that laid back feel to it,i wouldnt live there but its great for a few days r and r.Only one bad experience which happened last time i was there a few weeks ago.I parked my pick up truck [only two weeks old] in the centre of thong sala one morning to go have breakfast at american Michaels[cant remember name of restaurant but it has the best food in town]buakao or something??On my return an hour later i found i had a slashed tyre.I was parked outside a dive shop on the main strip near the pier next to a motorbike shop.I couldnt find a replacement tyre so our visit was cut short.I would like to ask Phan ngan residents does this happen often,i will be reluctant to bring the truck over again.I wonder was the truck mistaken for some one elses??Needless to say it wont but me off going back.The Bxxxxxds!!

[Mark Wolfe]

"You will not use thaivisa.com to post any material which is knowingly or can be reasonably construed as false, defamatory, inaccurate...."

If a person DID have a bad experience, then it cannot be construed as being false, defamatory or inaccurate. It has the benefit of being true and therefore there is no legal basis for any lawsuit. A forum without personal experience is a forum without teeth.

On a similar note, restaurant reviews in newspapers are always positive (mostly) not because of any fear of legal action if they say the food or service is bad; rather, they don't want to piss off a potential advertiser. Trust me on this; I was in the newspaper biz.

This is starting to get off topic, but if you went to "Wonderful Guest House" and it wasn't wonderful, that is your true and accurate experience. And yes, it is only one person's tale, just as a restaurant review is only one person visiting one place once.

Defamation: Communication to third parties of false statements about a person that injure the reputation of or deter others from associating with that person.

"I stayed at Wonderful Guest House and the people were surly to me and overcharged me." If it happened, it is not false, and therefore not defamation.

You must post your true experiences; there are no legal problems with this (and I have experience with this as a moderator too).

Rule: If it actually happened to you, it can be posted.

Oh, and by the way, I am going for a visit and to do a story on the place. I just hoped that a little feedback before I went would give me a head's up on where to stay in (such is the plan) Haad Yao, Chaloklum, Thong Nai Pan/Yai and Thaan Sadet.

Mark

Edited June 20, 2006 by Mark Wolfe

[sbk]

Mark, to reiterate, posting a bad experience is acceptable but to post "such and such resort is full of drug users" is a very bad idea. Argue all you want but you are not a moderator on this forum.

Also, it might have been better if you had posted this part first

Oh, and by the way, I am going for a visit and to do a story on the place. I just hoped that a little feedback before I went would give me a head's up on where to stay in (such is the plan) Haad Yao, Chaloklum, Thong Nai Pan/Yai and Thaan Sadet.

Mark

I don't have a problem with advising people to stay as I have lived here many many years (and no, andy capp, it is not common for tires to be slashed, probably mistook your truck for someone elses). However, I do object to misleading posts suggesting that the OP is planning on doing a thread just on Koh P and great places to stay and not mentioning the part about getting paid to to do so.

[Mark Wolfe]

"However, I do object to misleading posts suggesting that the OP is planning on doing a thread just on Koh P and great places to stay and not mentioning the part about getting paid to to do so."

Lost me there. I am not getting paid to start a thread. And I don't see what getting paid has to do with anything regarding what is good and what isn't anywhere. What is misleading? I firstly wish to go since I have never been and want to see what I assume is a nice place, and secondly, as a freelance writer, I will be open to a good travel destination story, should the opportunity arise.

I am not sure what your occupation is, sbk, but if I asked for your advice on where to go, I wouldn't consider you to be misleading because I found out you are a travel agent (and getting paid for it).

The other reason that I started this thread was because there does not seem to be a single cohesive thread of information by recent travelers/residents on the island. It would be nice to gather such information (a moderator could do this, as they ought to have the time and interest in the site) and post it as a sticky. It is one of the common failings of forums like this to have a great deal of information that is shotgun scattered, some of which is buried off topic and can be hard if not nearly impossible to search out. If a moderator would like to help in this regard by copying and pasting relevant material into the thread, he will have my thanks.

As far as the place(s) reported to have guests using drugs, first, if the experience is true, it is worth posting about. No lawsuit has been successfully procecuted against someone telling the truth. And, I would assume that quite a large population of potential Koh P travelers would think that this was, in fact, good news.

Thanks to the previous posters for their input. Any more? Only niceties, if you wish.

Mark

PS--Reference this as a guide to what I am interested in from you all re Koh P. I posted this myself without compensation

Bali Update -- December 2002

Here are a few first hand observations you might find useful:

Preparations:

Money: Cash gets a slightly better exchange rate than travelers' checks (about Rps. 100 per US dollar). Rates are also slightly less for US$50 bills and smaller.

WARNING! Do not bring US$100 notes that were printed in 1996. They are nearly impossible to change. Apparently, a while back a number of counterfeits were circulated bearing the year 1996 and no one will accept them.

December 2002 average rate (in Bali): US$1 to Rps. 8,875-8700 (Cash)

EVA Air reconfirmation number in Bali: (0361) 759-773 or (0361) 768-405

Ask if you need the prefix, depending where you are.

Binoculars: If you have a small pair, you should consider bringing them. Much of the beach action involves surfing and if you want to get a good view, binoculars are the way to go.

Lock: Some bungalows and safe boxes in resorts use padlocks. Using your own ensures safety.

Gifts: You will meet some nice people and might want to leave them with a gift. A deck of playing cards is a useful and inexpensive gift -- but buy them in Indonesia as they are only about Rps. 10,000.

SANUR

China Airlines and EVA Air are running specials to Bali which include a 14-day ticket and two nights' accommodation in a nice hotel. Most choose the Grand Bali Beach Resort from the list of three or four offered hotels. Retail price is US$200/night.

A familiar site in Bali is empty restaurants and facilities. The Grand Bali Beach is slightly busier than surrounding resorts, which are mostly deserted, but have beautifully landscaped grounds.

The beach here is not too bad, but the water is far from the walkway running along the beach at the property lines of the resorts. The water is nearly waveless and actually the "scene" is uninteresting.

Just about 100 meters north of the Grand Bali Beach is the place to get a boat to the nearby and much smaller island of Lembongan. The boats leave at 7:30am and 8:30am. The later one costs Rps. 43,000. The earlier one is, I believe, slightly cheaper. There is no pier -- you have to wade out to the boat. The trip to the island takes about an hour.

Remember, if you miss the boat (so to speak) there is always someone with another boat willing to fleece you for a chartered voyage. Expect to be asked substantially more than the ferry fare. How much you pay is up to your negotiation skills.

LEMBONGAN

The ferry will stop in front of Mandara Beach Bungalows, which is where you will buy your return ticket on the day you choose to leave. Return tickets cost Rps. 50,000 for the 8:30am boat and Rps. 35,000 for the 7:30am one.

Facing the shore and turning left (north) are a number of bungalows. Some are simple but nice, while others are simple but a bit on the primitive side (no-flush toilets and "shower" that consists of a bent pipe). Keep walking along the beach until you see the following places (don't mind the guy that follows you; he seems to be the greeting committee of one and is harmless):

PLACES TO STAY

Main ski

This is where the surfers like to stay, particularly the Japanese. Not a bad place if you like surfers and loud music from time to time. They have the only Internet facilities on the island.

Agung

Not a bad place but Spartan. Asking price is Rps. 50,000/night.

Ketut's Warung

This was closed but should reopen after the Australian owner returns.

Tarci Bungalow

This place is pretty basic (Rps. 50,000) but it has by far the best people. All the other places are run by folks who seem very detached from their work, but the Tarci people are very engaging and helpful. Good place to hang out in the beachfront restaurant.

Linda Bungalow

Very nice indeed (Rps. 70,000) and offers a second floor balcony.

Recommendation:

Stay in Linda or Agung and hang out at Tarci. Get relief from the heat in the second floor restaurant of Agung.

THINGS

Flies: If you like flies, this is going to be like heaven to you. "It's mango season," you are told, but the fact that the entire island is almost entirely devoted to the cultivation of seaweed, which must be dried behind the bungalows, surely contributes to the invasion.

Roosters: If you like roosters, this is going to be like heaven to you. "There must be hundreds of roosters on this island," says I. "Thousands," is the reply. "Eggs must be cheap here," I say with a smile. "No," comes the answer. "We get our eggs from Bali -- and they aren't cheap; they're Rps. 600 each!"

Why all the birds, you ask? Cockfights. If you are lucky, you may be on the island when one of the contests takes place.

Heat: It could get hotter, but then you'd have to be on the surface of the sun. Remember, the best thing to replace lost fluids is beer -- lots of it.

Snorkeling: Some of the brightest and most varied coral you are likely to see is near the island. A boat can be hired to take you to two or three spots for several hours, which includes mask, snorkel and fins. A single person can go for Rps. 80,000 (after bargaining) and more people can, of course, go cheaper. Expect to pay Rps. 40,000 each in a group of three or more.

Scuba diving: There are several places here but none seems to be operated by other than locals. This in and of itself may not be bad, but by the looks of some of the equipment at one shop, be prepared to inspect the gear to your satisfaction first. Prices are negotiable. The cheapest I heard of was US$35 for two dives, down from a starting price of about US$50.

Mangrove swamp: The opposite side of the island and to the north is bordered by mangrove swamps. A boat will take you through the labyrinth for about Rps. 50,000 more or less. Go at high tide.

Push bike and motorcycle: You can rent a push bike for Rps. 30,000/day, but there is a saddle to the southwest of the island that requires you push the bike up the hill (unless you are some sort of athlete). The bikes are good mountain bikes and have lots of gears that seem to all work. Frankly, however, there is not much to see.

Motorcycles usually rent for Rps. 70,000/hour (ouch!). One fellow at Agung was renting his for Rps. 35,000/2 hours or Rps. 50,000/3 hours. Here again, there is not much to see around the island.

Surfing: Lembongan is famous for its waves. Surfers come all the way from Japan just for them. One area, "Lacerations," is known for excellent tube rides. The waves break about 200 meters from shore -- the space from the waves to the beach is old reef now used to grow plots of seaweed.

Victuals: Food at the bungalows is not that interesting, but I am told that the soups are good, particularly at Tarci. There is one restaurant, however, and it has the best food on the island. Walk directly back away from the beach next to the dive shop next to Tarci. About 100 meters you will hit an asphalt track. Directly in front of you is the restaurant. They will also let you play their DVDs there. Be aware, however, that in all restaurants in Bali the food portions are nothing like you are used to -- they are small. But then, they're cheap.

Wildlife: Be on the lookout for the biggest lizard you have ever seen in your life. Not exactly a Komodo dragon, but twice as big as a cat....

And keep your ears open for the big geckos...they call out their name -- cool!

PADANGBAI

Back on Bali, Padangbai lies on the east coast. It is a pretty beach/bay that is peaceful except for the nighttime blasts from the car and passenger ferry to Lombok and the occasional barking dogs.

PLACES TO STAY

Some people stay in accommodations off the beach, but I can't figure why. If you are here it is because of the beach and to get to the best places, walk past the second pier -- the loading pier (the first is the large, main one for ferries to Lombok). Here you will find bungalows along the beach.

Most of these here are very similar. Bargain hard and you may get a deal.

Kerti Beach Inn and Cafe

There are two front rooms facing the beach and on the main "road" -- a small asphalt track -- for Rps. 25, 000/night including breakfast. The cool thing about these places is the attached shower and toilet area. The area is open to the sky -- showering and shaving in daylight, what a concept.

Puri Rai

These are the best in the area (which is not large) and rooms go for Rps. 150,000/night with fan and Rps. 250,000/night with air-con. If you want to live in relative comfort to which you are accustomed at home, this might be the place for you.

Recommendation:

Puri Rai for the best comfort (at the highest price) or browse and check out the other, cheaper places.

THINGS

Food: The restaurants facing the water have nearly identical fare. Nothing too outstanding, but fair nonetheless.

The second-floor restaurant at Kerti is very nice. Fish is the meal of choice here in Padangbai and there is usually a good selection -- tuna, marlin, red snapper, barracuda and mackerel. If you order fish and chips and are expecting something like you'd get in London, think again. A good feed will set you back about Rps. 20,000 to Rps. 25,000 (including a drink).

The best place to eat, however, is the Puri Rai. Try the barracuda or marlin -- wow!

Snorkeling: Walking to the end of the beach road about 50 meters from the bungalows the road forks -- right goes to the two temples and left to an overlook restaurant and the "Blue Lagoon" beach. Best advice is to have breakfast and then walk over to the Blue Lagoon. It is really like something out of a dream. Snorkeling gear can be rented at the only restaurant which is usually deserted for about Rps. 15,000. This is near the area where scuba diving is done and has a nice little variety of small ocean things to see. Go up to the restaurant to get a bit of a breeze and a cold one (or five).

There is another beach clear across the bay on the opposite side -- beyond the Lombok ferry pier. I never went there because it was 4,000 degrees in the shade and the walk seemed too far (a kilometer?), but eyewitness reports say that there are several food joints and foreign women sunbathing with their TOPS OFF!

Scuba diving: There are a number of places here and several sites, including a wreck. To get an idea of the details and pricing, check out the outfit run by a German couple at http://www.divinggroove.com/

Sunset watching (aka another excuse to drink lots of beer):

The only show in town at this time is at the place on the way to Blue Lagoon. You can't miss it -- there is nothing else there. Go upstairs and sit on cushions on a straw mat around a low, Japanese-style table. The far side of the place (upstairs forms a "U" shape) gives the best view.

KUTA

PLACES TO STAY

There are scores of accommodations in Kuta and point north and south. I might recommend staying on Poppies I road for a couple of reasons. It is fairly well located for all the things that a person might need (both naughty and nice) and has a range of places from US$60/night to Rps. 30,000/night.

I stayed in a place called Kedin's on the "intersection" with the path that goes to Mimpi's -- a place that was full.

Kedin's is nice and reminds you of a Florida apartment complex. Mimpi's has a pool (swimming pools at the beach -- what a concept....) and apparently is nice.

Nothing in the range of normal vacationing humans that I know is available on the beachfront. In fact, the road/path (Poppies I) runs back about half a kilometer to the main road from the beach. It's a bit of a walk and if you plan on making trips to and from your guest house and the beach, the closer to the surf the better (unless you have one of those pools, I guess.).

The intersection of Legian (the main road running parallel to the beach and Poppies I (which runs to the beach) is almost invisible. At that point you can touch both walls on either side with outstretched arms. Hint: look for the sign that says, "Mexican restaurant." That's the mouth of the intersection.

There is not much to tell about Kuta -- whatever you want is all there to see. The beach is good for surfing or learning to surf (swimmers note: pay attention to the flags that designate your areas, otherwise you will be A) yelled at by surf punks and probably run over with a surfboard in your forehead by surf punks.

The beach is huge and nice for sunset watching (and they are pretty good there). The sand is wide and at low tide (sunsets) you can rent a bike and ride along the surf on the hard, wet sand.

Food: One reason for staying on Poppies I is the Circle-K at the end of the road by the beach. They have a mini "Subway"-style deli there and the sandwiches are better than that other place and cost about Rps. 14,000. Yum!

Girls: For those gentlemen who long for the ladies, I heard tell that the bar next to (and part of?) Mini Restaurant on Legian Road just north of the Poppies I intersection has a dozen or so such ladies. My inside sources tell me that an hour will run about Rps. 250,000 (up or down...) and may include a massage, if you have time left over after discussing politics. There is no bar fine and if a girl goes back to your bungalow (not the big, expensive ones -- they won't allow riff-raff in), she will leave her "massage girl" ID card with the desk so that you will know who she is should anything untoward happen (unlikely).

A little bird told me, however, that Sanur is where all the really super babes hang out....

Taxi to the airport: You will be offered "transportation" very often, but remember that the taxis use meters and they are very reasonable. From Legian Road expect to pay about Rps. 15,000 by the meter. There is no other charge.

English, what a concept! (a few examples seen)

-- From the newspaper "Koran Bali": an ad for McDonald's "Grimace Show"

-- Sign on a wall: "I love gases"

-- Lots of signs indicating: "Cat oven"

-- Sign in handicraft shop window: "Close -- Please come at"

-- Small billboard: "Permanent or real tattoos"

-- On a box of Homa Brand toothpicks: "Super Sterilized"

(A few thoughts on the Kuta bombings)

It was big. They are rebuilding (razed shops are bad for business), but the area of destruction is pretty awesome.

The idea that that would be a "good" target is a bit unsettling. It is such an unlikely spot. You may be thinking of Kuta the next time you are in Phuket or Manila and in a bar, restaurant or club.

[sbk]

Mark, let me put it another way so I can be clear here. Any poster who posts such information will find themselves warned and their post deleted. It is not acceptable to say "such and such a place is full of drug users" or "such and such a place sells drugs" OK? Is that clear now?

And yes, I would find info from a travel agent suspect since agents tend to steer you towards the places that give them a commission.

I don't object towards a thread about Koh Phangan, it is a great place and having lived here many years, I believe there is more to it than just parties.

And I don't object to you using information obtained from this site to gather information for an article you plan on writing, I just wish you had been clear on that from the first.

[game4shame]

Koh Phangan is shit.

[limbos]

Game,

Anything else that you want to discuss or get off your chest?

[game4shame]

Game,

Anything else that you want to discuss or get off your chest?

just ignore me - I was in the mood for a wind-up and no-one took the bait. I thought I'd be guaranteed a bite in the KS forum. apologies

ive only been to KPG once. it was ok but not really my cup of chang. reasons being - bar full moon time - I found it quiet, which is ok if that's what you're after but I wasn't......

.....and the whole crazy art student-long hair-dope smoking-fire throwing-linen wearing-street stall eating-spiritual thing got on my boobs.

just my opinion of course.

[limbos]

See,

Feels a lot better already

Fully agree on the art students till boobs part

[girlx]

the whole crazy art student-long hair-dope smoking-fire throwing-linen wearing-street stall eating-spiritual thing got on my boobs.

hmmm you got a very superficial view of koh phangan then... i live here and know very few people like that. there is much more to koh phangan than the stereotype.

[Mark Wolfe]

Where are these stereotypical art-people?

[redrus]

Where are these stereotypical art-people?

Up their own <deleted>, at a guess...........

redrus

[Jiu-Jitsu]

Can get a little sanctimonious around here.

Could have been an interesting thread.

[Mark Wolfe]

Can get a little sanctimonious around here.

Could have been an interesting thread.

Hmmm....

Just back...thinking of how or if to post now that my "cover" as a journalist has been blown...

Very interesting place(s).